[Colorado-Talk] my thoughts on living the life you want

Mon Jan 20 19:48:55 UTC 2020

Nice, and very well said. My ultimate point, you are living the life you want, whether you are volunteering a homemaker, intrapreneur, or working with and for others. That is living the life you want, because you are choosing your life. If it needs to change, its your decision, how you change it.

Melissa R. Green and Pj

From: Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Jd Holcomb via Colorado-Talk
Sent: Saturday, January 18, 2020 7:38 AM
To: NFB of Colorado Discussion List <colorado-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jd Holcomb <jdholcomb79 at icloud.com>
Subject: Re: [Colorado-Talk] my thoughts on living the life you want

“You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams.” (nfb.org <http://nfb.org/> ) Some of us get excited, as this is a slogan that promotes hope and validation that blindness is not the singular reason for our success or failure. Others struggle with this statement, as they perceive blindness as an immovable wall.  Whether this statement brings feelings of hope or discouragement, you may be able to get around the Great Blind Wall in your life and move forward. Though some are excited that all they may have to do is get around the blind wall and their dreams can be once again realized. Though you may get around your blindness, it never leaves you and, in that respect, you do not want to get stuck just on the other side of the blind wall.

Well what do we do when we are stuck on the other side of the wall? I suggest getting a little Colorado Country, get a truck and a trailer to haul that blind wall around and go explore the world off the paved road.

What is this guy talking about? Trucks and dirt roads, well if you want to experience all that America has to offer, your going to get dirty, just wash your hands before you eat!

Hey what happened to the NFB in this story? To put it in its place, it is the diesel in the truck of course! The NFB is an instrument in our blind lives that is available to all Americans, though how it is chosen to be implemented by the individual is up to personal preference.

In the end, you and you alone, control the path you take. Go left or right, up or down, just go with purposeful direction and just do not forget to swing in the NFB station a top the tank up and keep exploring Colorado, America, and the World!

P.s.

A great way to incite change is to be active in the legislation experience.

“ <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar> Washington Seminar

At our Washington Seminar, members of the National Federation of the Blind convene to learn about and advocate for legislative initiatives that will improve the lives of blind Americans.” (nfb.org <http://nfb.org/> )

Contact your local NFB leadership about State and National events that affect the disability civil rights movement. Hey, it’s a movement, so let’s get a little Colorado Country, get moving, get dirty, and purposefully work towards the life you want!

Jedediah Holcomb

On Jan 18, 2020, at 3:30 AM, Dianna Alley via Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk at nfbnet.org <mailto:colorado-talk at nfbnet.org> > wrote:

Adjustment training is for those who have never adjusted to blindness, or they have not adjusted the way the federation feels they should, whichever the case may be.  That will depend on each person.  I can do sleep shades.  I refuse too.  To me that don't determine whether I live the life I want or not.

-----Original Message-----
From: Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org <mailto:colorado-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> > On Behalf Of Pipi Adams via Colorado-Talk
Sent: Friday, January 17, 2020 7:19 PM
To: NFB of Colorado Discussion List <colorado-talk at nfbnet.org <mailto:colorado-talk at nfbnet.org> >
Cc: Pipi Adams <blahblahblah at iampipi.com <mailto:blahblahblah at iampipi.com> >
Subject: Re: [Colorado-Talk] my thoughts on living the life you want

Jenny,
Have you talked to Julie about training and the sleep shades? 

Sincerely,
Pipi Adams

On Jan 16, 2020, at 4:05 PM, Jenny Perdue via Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk at nfbnet.org <mailto:colorado-talk at nfbnet.org> > wrote:

Hi there,

Sleep shades are not an option for me. I cannot have anything on my face, hence the reason I don’t wear sunglasses even though I have light sensitivity.

I think that is a Accommodation that should be made for those of us who can’t do it.

Why should we miss the chance to have an NFB training just because we can’t we are sleep shades? Just a thought.

What is adjustment training. I haven’t received that either.

Jenny

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 11, 2020, at 10:28 AM, Maryann Migliorelli via Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk at nfbnet.org <mailto:colorado-talk at nfbnet.org> > wrote:

Hi Jenny, it is absolutely worth a conversation to talk to Julie or someone at the center and explain what things you believe you can want to. The centers certainly are able to adjust the requirements to meet somebody’s needs. As far as things like sleep, shades it’s best to think of them as just part of the curriculum. You couldn’t go to a college and say ”I want to graduate but I don’t want to use the textbook you’re providing.” I’m not saying this specifically to you but the others were thinking about canes and sleep shades. I think about it like attending the physics class and saying, ”That’s great, but I don’t want to use the physics textbook you have.”  It wouldn’t be accepted.   Most people do have some  choices about which centers  too attend.You can choose a Center anywhere in the country if you can justify why you need that over another place. It is not easy, but it is part of the freedom of choice act.

On another subject entirely I’m very proud to hear of your volunteer accomplishments. Are you aware that we have a community service division? It sounds like something you should really consider joining. Any of the activities are by    phone.

Being a homemaker is certainly a good profession, even though vocational rehab doesn’t consider it so. There used to be a time when their were services or people whowork at home taking care of families. Perhaps we can look into that again as an organization and ensure that Blind parents are able to get skills that they need and technology that facilitates then being at home. 

Scott, please think as I do that using assistance and crossing cards 

is certainly a choice. There certainly is an opposite choice which is 

much less desire such as staying home or completely relying on 

somebody to do what you need for you. Either way living the life you 

want  is about making your own choices instead of having somebody 

make them for you

I apologize for the length of the message and several subjects, but I wanted to get them all in while I am making the choice to ride a greyhound from New York City to Albany. Have a wonderful day. 

At your service,

Sent from Maryann Migliorelli's iPhone

On Jan 9, 2020, at 5:58 AM, Jenny Perdue via Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk at nfbnet.org <mailto:colorado-talk at nfbnet.org> > wrote:

Hi Melissa, I enjoyed your comments greatly.

Yes you’re told the requirements for CCB, but if you can’t be under sleep shade, if there are things that you can’t do. You shouldn’t just be booted out because you don’t meet the requirements.

I thought if anyone the NFB‘s Colorado Center for the blind would be Accommodating and such as that. I have never called, because honestly, all the centers for the blind sound like their run very similarly and I don’t think that I would really be able to do it.

Everybody doesn’t fit in a box. And that includes those of us with multiple health problems.

I am so grateful for this Dialogue, conversation. Thank everybody for being so wonderful and understanding. Even the thoughts that we don’t agree on, we can still respect them.

Jenny

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 7, 2020, at 7:15 PM, Melissa R. Green via Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk at nfbnet.org <mailto:colorado-talk at nfbnet.org> > wrote:

First, thank you Scott. For sharing your views and the background. 

Now, I will share my thoughts, and then continue to comment and read, as webbl as live the life I want.

Growing up, I got little mentions of the NFB. Like many I got the little callendars in braille. My teachers would give it to me.' as a gift.

I didn't really know about the NFB until 1992.

I had made up my mind that I was not going to be in any more organizations. I was leaving the ACB. I was done.

So I sat at the table with my aunt and a couple of people that I had met. While Peggy Pinder, at that time, walked around the room, and my aunt whispering in my ear about her.

I didn't like it. But, Peggy came over and spent time with me.

Thats where I met my cousin who was a leader in the federation. I did join.

I read the braille monitor. I kept reaning it when I moved back to NewJersey. 

No matter how depressed or upset I got about the commission not helping me, I stikl kept reading the braille monitor, and teaching myself things like computers.

As well as talking with my cousin. Him encouraging and listening and making suggestions.

One day I got a cabbl, from Mrs. Maurer. She told me about the centers. I got a better response from Diane Mcgeorge.

Smile! We started working me getting to CCB.

After, the NFB of NJ president, joined the reverend moon church, and lots ot talks with Duncan, and asked to consider mo"ing to Colorado. 

I moved and yes as the youngest, my mom came with me. I got flack for that, but it worked out. 

For me it was more than river rafting, cooking a big meal, and rock climbing. I learned that the center gives you choices and the training is tools in my tool box.

We had many students that had other disabilities. Their program was 

indevidualized. The staff worked to help these students. One 

student had a stroke. It was other diffeculties that were hendering 

her, the staff didn't kick her to the can-rb, they found other 

programs for her. Nother student graduated and recieved his bell. I 

tell you all of this because, CCB will try, and sometimes they have 

a comversation about if this program will work for the person. As 

someone that is human, I get tired of people blaming the center for 

the program. You are told the requirements, and if not, then it

Have a enjoyable and blessed day.

Sincerely,

Melissa R.  Green and Pj

"If you have a goal, make it something you strive to accomplish. If you have a hope, then hope for it with all your heart.  

----- Original Message -----

From: Scott C. LaBarre via Colorado-Talk  

<colorado-talk at nfbnet.org <mailto:colorado-talk at nfbnet.org> >

To: colorado-talk at nfbnet.org <mailto:colorado-talk at nfbnet.org> 

Date: 01/07/2020 5:02 pm

Subject: [Colorado-Talk] my thoughts on living the life you want

First of all, I want to wish everyone here a very happy new year!  My hope is that 2020 will be outstanding for all of us.

Next, I want to thank Jenny for raising the topic of what our tagline "live the life you want!" really means.  I appreciate everyone's thoughtful comments about how it should be interpreted and implemented.

Before I delve into the substance of my comments, I want to give you a little  background which helps to form my perspective.  I first joined the NFB in 1986, and I have had the honor and privilege of being a very active member and leader on many different levels.  As part of that experience, I served on a committee which was formed in 2013, maybe even late 2012, whose purpose was to develop our plan for celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Federation.  After some discussion, we decided that it was time to rebrand our messaging so that we could more effectively communicate who we are.  One part of that rebranding was changing our tagline from  "we are changing what it means to be blind" to the current "live the life you want!"  Beyond just the tagline, we developed a comprehensive brand architecture which has many elements that would serve as an excellent focal point for future discussions.  In any event, I mention all this because I think I have some idea of what we intended regarding the message we were attempting to  communicate.

Ever since I have been involved in the NFB, there has been this conception that the NFB only supports and celebrates the "super blind" and that if you don't go about blindness in a very specific manner, you are not really living the life the NFB endorses.  I emphatically and whole heartedly believe that this misconception is not true!  There is no such thing as a model Federationist, and there certainly is not one, singular script from which we must all lead our lives.  

The idea of "live the life you want!" is that your blindness should not hold you back from pursuing your dreams and ambitions.  Undeniably all of our dreams and ambitions  are limited and somewhat governed by the realities we face, whether those are financial, educational, , health based, or otherwise.  There is no one way to live the life you want.  It doesn't matter if you are pursuing a high stakes profession, working from home, volunteering in the community, or not working at all.  Our main message is that whatever you are doing with       your life, your blindness should not be the chief reason holding you back from whatever brings you fulfillment and purpose in life.  Our one minute message, another creation of our rebranding, brings this point out.

"The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back."

A key part of this message is that we are raising expectations.  That has both an external and internal aspects to it.  On the external side, we are working to convince the general population that they can and should expect more from us.  All of us often run into very low expectations held by the public.  Pretty much every time I travel to and through an airport somebody tells me how amazing I am for simply putting one foot in front of another.  

On the internal side, we should encourage one another to become the best versions of ourselves that we can.  Doing so must always be done with love and understanding.  Every year that I am in the Federation, I learn so much from our members on how I can lead my life in a better way, a new technology trick or something that enhances my independent travel or whatever it might be.  I certainly haven't figured it all out, and I know that some times I do in fact let my blindness limit me in a way that isn't truly necessary.  

Regardless, we must accept people where they are in their lives and be ready to encourage them to achieve more when that is appropriate.  This is what we aim to do at our centers.  We work with people from all walks of life and who have a wide variety of challenges.  No student's program is or should be the same.  We have some general policies and expectations, but same are always adjusted to the individual student.

Living the life you want is all about independence and freedom.  As our founder Dr. tenBroek so eloquently  put it, we have a right to live in the world.  That means we have the right to be free and independent and to determine our own destiny.  The exact mechanism we use to achieve that freedom and independence is not the key issue, but rather that we  know and believe that we have the right to achieve it.  I think the Federation's best speech regarding independence is the Nature of Independence by Dr. Jernigan from the 1993 Convention.  If you haven't read it, I encourage that you do so.    It is available through our national website.

Before closing this out, I want to address another point Jenny raised in her original message, the idea that perhaps we some times focus and emphasize success stories based on traditional notions of success and that we don't celebrate other forms of achievement.  I think this is a great point, and we should endeavor to paint a more comprehensive picture.  Convincing an animal shelter to let you volunteer despite your blindness is just as important as someone winning a national scholarship based on academic achievement at the highest level.  Both are part of living the life we want.

In closing, I want to share two other element from our brand architecture, the Brand Promise and Value Proposition.  I do this because, for me, it so eloquently sums up why I am involved in our Federation.  "Together with love, hope, and determination, we transform dreams into reality.  I am filled with hope, energy, and love by participating in the National Federation of the Blind because my expectations are raised, my contributions make a difference to me and to others, and I can celebrate the realization of my dreams with my Federation family."

Warmly,

Scott

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